OUR SERVICES...
CAPS offers assessment, short-term individual counseling and group therapy services to full-time, degree-seeking students on the Fredericksburg campus. All students, as well as other UMW community members, may also use our consultation, outreach, crisis intervention and community referral services.
Assessment & Counseling
Individual Therapy
CAPS uses a brief therapy model for individual counseling. Full-time students may participate in up to ten sessions per year. Initially, the student and his/her counselor work together to define concerns, set goals and develop a plan for counseling. In addition to individual sessions, the counselor may also recommend group therapy which is especially helpful for students seeking support, information, feedback and new interpersonal and coping skills. In situations where the student's concerns require longer-term intervention, we offer referrals to mental health providers and agencies in the community.Group Therapy
Our general groups are intended for full-time UMW students who want to have a space to talk about any issue that is on their minds. Often these concerns are related to personal or family stress. General groups allow people to grow, learn about their interpersonal style, and try new skills in a safe space before taking them into our everyday world.Life Coaching: "Designing Your Life"
Not therapy or counseling, "life coaching" is a process that empowers students, with the support of a coach, to explore, plan and act in any and all aspects of their lives (e.g., friendships, family, health/wellness, dating, career, recreation, life purpose, finances, etc.). We've all had the experience of wanting something, but never quite getting around to making our particular dream happen. Coaching helps students break through barriers so that they can create the life they want. Coaching can help students clarify personal goals, identify their unique strengths, and move forward with confidence as they pursue their individual goals..
The coaching process is student-driven and values-based; students set their own goals in whatever areas of their lives in which they wish to make changes. Do you want to be healthier, start an exercise program, polish your leadership skills, manage your money, or figure out life after college? Coaching can help with these and more.
For more information, contact Dr. Barbara Wagar at 540.654.1053.
Consultation
Consultation is useful for UMW community members who wish to gather information about mental health issues, our services and/or obtain referrals to services in the community. Students often consult with our staff if they are concerned about the well-being of a friend or roommate, if they want to learn how to help support friends in distress or when they want information about psychological health and wellness. Faculty, staff and parents typically consult when they have concerns about a student, when they want to assist the student in seeking help and when they want to learn more about how to appropriately provide support to that individual.
Outreach Education
Educational programs allow our staff to provide wellness information to the entire university community. We offer programs throughout the year on topics such as stress management, relationship and communication skills, depression and anxiety disorders, conflict management, assertion, sexual assault and the like. We would be glad to discuss programming needs and interests with any member of the university community and can develop wellness programs on a wide variety of topics. We also offer a resource library of print and audiovisual materials relating to issues such as social anxiety, shyness, grief and loss, substance abuse, family relationships, sexual orientation, eating disorders and body image, mood disorders, time mangement and more. Simply contact our administrative assistant if you wish to use these materials.
Crisis Intervention
Crisis appointments are available daily at CAPS during regular office hours. After hours and on weekends, our staff works with Residence Life, the University Police, and community health service providers to address psychological emergencies.
Community Referrals
Each year we survey mental health providers in the Fredericksburg community so that we can provide accurate and up-to-date referral information to students and staff alike. If you are interested in pursuing longer-term therapy and/or psychiatric care and would like help in locating local providers, please call us. Your request, as with all consultations, is confidential. We have a hard-copy directory that you may consult simply by asking our administrative assistant. If you would like to speak with a staff member, simply set up a consultation appointment. Our database includes information on mental health providers' locations, FRED and disability access, approaches to treatment, insurance plans accepted and more.